General Chat

As some of you might know, I have been a bit poorly for the last few months. I have a little book (I call it my baby book, lol) in which all my treatment and blood results are recorded.... the nurses usually fill it in automatically, unless they are very busy or there is a major emergency going on.

I have just flicked through it...... and have counted the number of blood/blood product transfusions I have had..... I have had over 140 units of blood and platelets since October 2008.

People who give their blood and platelets so willingly have literally saved my life, not once, but time after time. And I know that there are many GR members who are donators, Staffs Colin for one...

I will be eternally grateful.

God Bless you all, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love

Daff xxxx

I'd have to second that!!

I used to give blood but cant now 'cos their are restrictions on people who have lived in the UK giving blood/products in Ireland (BSE & NvCJD). I have tried to give again in the UK but I am never over when they are near to my mums!!

Hope you are ok Daff..

love T.x

Hi Theresa, yes, I am fine, and enjoying my remission, new lease of life, and snazzy new hairstyle, lol..... just having a sort out, and started reading my book, it just struck me how many people helped save my life, and so many of them unsung heroes and heroines. I used to give blood... I am Oneg, so quite precious!! I was also on a military register as an emergency donor... but never really thought about the consequences, just that my blood would save babies and car crash victims. It never occurred to me how vital it would be for leukemia fighters like me. And other cancers as well.

MWAH to everyone.

Love

Daff xxx

wish i could give but wont let me because of medication i take.

D x

Hiya Dawnie... how are you these days? Hope you are well?

I had to give up when I was 33.... that's when I went on the BP tabs, lol... I came off them for 6 months at one stage.... just long enough to donate... and of course, now I will never be able to donate again.

Love

Daff xxxx

Oh Daff.

I have had to stop giving blood ,for medical reasons, and I am so upset about this.
I so loved giving people the chance to get well on behalf of me, now every time I see the blood doner unit I feel let down by me .

Its lovely to hear someone appreciate someones blood.

May you continue to get well....
Marilyn x

Marilyn, please don't feel like that... just imagine that I had been given your blood....... I wouldn't be here without someone's... and lots of it!! There will be people out there walking around today, and your gift has enabled that... treat me as your proxy recipient/survivor!! They might not be alive but for your blood.... what a legacy! You have let no-one down... you have given such a wonderful gift to lots of others when you were able to donate.

Love

Daff xxxx

Thank you Daff,

Such kind words......I hope YOU did have my donated blood !

My blood doner card is my pride and joy.

Put away in a special place......

Marilyn x

Hi Daff - my husband has just last week given his 66th pinta! he's thin as a rake, but very fit and eats like a horse - lol

Apparently last week there were all sorts of new practices in place - all Health and Safety things I assume - before and after the donation - quite a bit different to the early days of donating which I remember well.

I stopped when we went to Africa on hols and had to wait for 6 months before being able to donate again, and to my shame I never did donate again but hubby obviously resumed his donations - bless his little cotton socks.

His blood is apparently full of oxygen and flows like a tap - whereas mine nowadays is, I suspect, full of Shiraz and takes ages to leave my body))))))

Well done to all Blood Donors everywhere - where would we be without you?

Jac xxx

Daff. Well said. I have never been a blood donor, but have needed blood.
During the transfusions, I did wonder about the donor, and silently thanked them.

MANY THANKS TO ALL BLOOD DONORS

That's interesting, Jac - I remember now, last time I donated (at Easter), they were asking people to drink a pint of water before they gave blood.

I get a bit frustrated with myself sometimes because I'm proud of being a blood donor (done it 11 times now, I think) as it's helping me get over my needle phobia (a bit) but I'm really tiny and my weight ranges from about 7st 10 to 8st 2 so I always have to weigh myself before I gve blood. (A couple of times it seems to have taken a minute to stop flowing after I've finished - I think it's because my heart's usually going into overdrive because I'm near a needle!)

It's gained a bit more meaning for me since last year because a family friend and my cousin's wife gave birth on the same day in September and both haemmorrhaged afterwards. My cousin's wife had 3 litres of blood (which is about 7 donated units) - things like that really bring it home to you.

Well said, Daff. It was a very sad moment for me when I couldn't donate any more but nice to think it might have done some good along the line. BC XX

Well thank you Daff!!

I have been a blood donor since I was 18 and have given 51 donations, and my hubby has given 41 (he's trying his best to catch me up!)

Must admit that I give blood without thinking of the consequences, but it's good to hear that it's appreciated.

I am glad to hear you are doing well Daff...

I used to give blood years ago, but when I married and had first child I never carried on donating.

My husband got the chance to do it through work and because of his blood type was asked if he would go on the anthony nolan register...he has donated a few pints since he joined.

Unfortunately being over here I am uunable to give any at the moment, hoping to resume some time (6 months?) after I get home for good. Only a couple of donations off my gold badge!
I am A+

Hello Daff
When our daughter was going through Chemo for Hodgkins in 2005 I was eternally grateful to all the donors who gave blood etc. I was a blood donor for many years until i contracted a malaria type virus and then it was too iffy for them to take any more for blood transfusions but they did use some of it for a while for platelets . I never really appreciated what was being done with the donations until our daughters illness brought it home to me.
Am too old now to donate but our grandaughter in her 20,s has been donating since she was of an age to do so and especially when she saw what her mum went through,
Am so glad to see you now in remission, our daughter is too and her next 6 month check is in Oct and then its a final check one year later.
My nephew had Leukemia about 8 yeras ago and he needed a bone marrow transplant from his brother and he is absolutely fine now .
Shirley

Hope you had some of mine :-)

Thank you Joy... blood rellies, aye? lol

Shirley, I remember... it was when I first started posting.... I didn't post straight away about my brother.... as your daughter was about to go for her 6 month check up... and my brother had just been told he had to have a stem cell transplant because his treatment for Hodgkins had failed... so I didn't mention him for a while so as not to upset you... your daughter's was such good news, and I have watched for your mentions of her... pass on my good wishes, if you would? My brother is doing well now, by the way!

Keith, that is brilliant... well done, and thank you.

Mama Rambo, I was on the Anthony Nolan register as a potential donor.... I am fortunate in having a brother with a very good match, should I ever need a bone marrow transplant. Would you thank your husband, for me? I really am very grateful, to all donors.

Maggy, you are more than welcome.... and hubby too. I would have used up most of that blood..... and a lot of platelets too!! So thank you, both of you.

BC... I am sure you did... I am so pleased that at least I was able to give blood for a little while.... only when we happened to be back in the UK, but even so, it was a little bit.

Kate... my left leg weighs more than you!! How tiny you must be!! And what a brave way of dealing with a needle phobia!

Hi Vicky..... it is amazing how many lives are saved by this, isn't it?

Jac.... I would have loved some of yours, lololol And please give your hubby a big hug from me... bless him!!

Marilyn... not kind... just true!! (((hugs)))

Love

Daff xxx

ps, hubby has just told me it is National Transfusion week or something, lol..... I must have seen that somewhere and it only registered in the dim (very dim!!) recesses of my bonce!! xxxx

Dear All

The site for the National Blood Service is:

www.blood.co.uk/

0300 123 23 23

They have lots of info about where you can give blood at a local centre near you and details about platelet donation and bone marrow.

No pressure, you can just have a chat and make up your mind.

Very best wishes to all who have posted.
xx

I always wanted to be a blood donor. Initially I wasn't allowed because I'd had a positive TB reaction.
When I tried again I was told the TB thing could be overcome, but I was under 8 stone.
When I gained weight, I found I only had one kidney!!
My thoughts are with all the wonderful blood donors out there.
I tried - but failed.